Mike Ruiz is a Canadian photographer, director, television personality, former model, spokesperson, creative director, and actor.
Early life
Ruiz, who is of
French Canadian
French Canadians, referred to as Canadiens mainly before the nineteenth century, are an ethnic group descended from French people, French colonists first arriving in Canada (New France), France's colony of Canada in 1608. The vast majority of ...
and
Spanish Filipino
Spanish Filipino or Hispanic Filipino ( Spanish: Español Filipino, Hispano Filipino, Tagalog: Kastílang Pilipino, Cebuano: Katsílà) are people of Spanish and Filipino heritage. The term may also include Filipino mestizos of Spanish ances ...
ancestry,
was born in
Montreal
Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
in 1964, but raised in
Repentigny, Quebec
Repentigny () is an off-island suburbs, off-island suburb of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located North Shore (Laval), north of the city on the lower end of the L'Assomption River, and on the Saint Lawrence River. Repentigny and Ch ...
, Canada. He was one of three sons born to Francoise and Anthony Ruiz. He moved to the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
at age 20 to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. After modeling for a decade he moved to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
to study acting. In 1997, Ruiz appeared in the independent film ''Latin Boys Go to Hell''.
In 2002 he moved from Los Angeles into an old friend's
Peel & Tracy James SOHO apartment in New York City to pursue his career in photography. Mike was then able to establish a new agent in NYC which propelled his career forward as a photographer.
Career
Photography
At the age of 28 Ruiz began in the field of photography. "I found a camera under my Christmas tree and within minutes, I was obsessed. I began shooting everything in sight. I taught myself the intricate mechanics of the camera but it was several years before I realized that I could actually make a living with my work‚" Ruiz was quoted as saying.
Presently based in New Jersey, Ruiz is known for celebrity and fashion photography.
His work has appeared in numerous American and international magazines such as ''
Vanity Fair'', ''Flaunt'', ''
Condé Nast Traveler
''Condé Nast Traveler'' is a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine published by Condé Nast. The magazine has won 25 National Magazine Awards.
The Condé Nast unit of Advance Publications purchased ''Signature'', a magazine for Diners Club me ...
'', ''Interview'', ''Paper'', ''Citizen K'', ''Dazed and Confused'', ''Arena'', ''Italian Elle'', ''Spanish'' and ''Brazilian Vogue'' and was a contributor to
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana (), also known by initials D&G, is an Italian Luxury goods, luxury fashion house founded in 1985 in Legnano by Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The house specializes in ready-to-wear, handbags, accessories, ...
's ''Hollywood'' book and
Iman's ''The Beauty of Color'' beauty book. He photographed the album cover for
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...
's ''
All I Ever Wanted''.
Designer
Menswear designer J. Cheikh collaborated with Ruiz to design a capsule collection for the Spring/Summer 2012 menswear collection in hopes of capitalizing on his fashion expertise and personal style. The collection was called "Mike Ruiz for J. Cheikh".
Directing
In addition to his advertising and celebrity clients, Ruiz has branched out as a director doing music video for artists such as
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, model, producer and dancer. She gained recognition as the first Black woman to win the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later Vanes ...
,
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's List of best-selling girl groups, best-selling gir ...
,
Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watley (born January 30, 1959) is an American singer, songwriter and producer whose music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance and electronic soul.Paoletta, Michael (February 22, 2003) "Watley Relaxes In The Setting of The ...
,
Traci Lords
Traci Elizabeth Lords (born Nora Louise Kuzma; May 7, 1968) is an American actress and singer. As a 15-year-old high-school dropout, she used Identity document forgery, fake identity documents to enter the sex industry, where she began appearin ...
,
Kristine W and
Shontelle
Shontelle Delia Layne (born 4 October 1985), known mononymously as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album '' Shontelligence'' in 2008. Her second album, '' No Gravity'', was released in 2010. Her singles " ...
. He also made his feature film directorial debut in 2007 with ''
Starrbooty'', starring
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor. He produces, hosts, and judges the reality competition series ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' and has received List of awards ...
.
Television
Ruiz has appeared on several reality shows, including ''
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'', ''
America's Next Top Model
''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...
'', and ''
RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...
'' ("
RuPaullywood or Bust"), as a celebrity photographer and guest judge. He also rounded out the panel of expert judges on the third season of ''
Canada's Next Top Model''.
Ruiz was a member of the cast of
Logo
A logo (abbreviation of logotype; ) is a graphic mark, emblem, or symbol used to aid and promote public identification and recognition. It may be of an abstract or figurative design or include the text of the name that it represents, as in ...
network's reality series, ''
The A-List: New York''.
Personal life
Ruiz moved to
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
in 2013 with his partner Martin Berusch, who died in 2016. Ruiz has been married to Wayne Schatz since May 2019.
References
Further reading
* Willis, Davis (November 15, 2011
Mike Ruiz: Master of Hopefulnessdodho magazine
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruiz, Mike
21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people
American music video directors
Anglophone Quebec people
Artists from Montreal
Canadian fashion photographers
Canadian gay actors
Canadian LGBTQ artists
Canadian male film actors
Canadian music video directors
Film directors from Montreal
Living people
Male actors from Montreal
Participants in American reality television series
People from Repentigny, Quebec
Year of birth missing (living people)